Albuquerque’s west side has a growing and expensive problem on its streets.

Albuquerque’s west side has a growing and expensive problem on its streets.

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Updated: 10:05 AM MDT Mar 29, 2014

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WEBVTT GROWING PROBLEM ON ITS STREETS. IT'S EXPENSIVE -- AND A FIX HAS YET TO BE FOUND. KOAT ANCHOR TODD KURTZ SHOW US WHY YOU'RE SEEING SO MANY GAPING CRACKS IN THE PAVEMENT. PEOPLE ON ALBUQUERQUE'S WEST SIDE ARE USED TO THIS NOISE... AND THAT THUD. WHEN THE WEST SIDE BOOMED EARLY THIS CENTURY -- ROADS WERE BUILT THE SAME WAY AS THE ONES ON THE EAST SIDE -- BUT THE TERRAIN IS DIFFERENT. ALL OF THAT SAND IN THE WEST IS SHIFTING AND CAUSING THE ROADS TO CRACK. THE PROBLEM STARTS WHEN YOU CROSS THE RIVER AND GETS WORSE THE FARTHER WEST YOU GO... ESPECIALLY PAST UNSER. MICHAEL REAR-DEN RIORDAN -- the asphalt itself is in good condition, but because it's shifting so much it's breaking every 50 to 100 feet. CITY WORKERS HAVE TRIED ABOUT EVERYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CUTTING CHUNKS OF ASPHALT OUT AND REPLACING IT -- that DIDN'T WORK. THEY TRIED FILLING THE CRACKS WITH A SEALER -- THAT SPLIT TOO. NOW THIS SUMMER, THEY'LL TRY POURING AN ASPHALT-LIKE MATERIAL IN THE GAPS.. TO HOPEFULLY BOND THE ROAD TOGETHER. THE CITY IS DEDICATING 7-MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR ALONE TO FIX THOSE ROADS. MICHAEL REAR-DEN RIORDAN -- it has been a trial and error to get to where we are right now. TODD KURTZ -- STAND UP -- there's also a new pilot program going on right here -- trying to build roads differently -- crews here are laying down a base material on top of the existing earth -- and then building the road. IT'LL TAKE ABOUT 5 YEARS TO KNOW IF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION DESIGN ACTUALLY WORKS. MICHAEL REAR-DEN RIORDAN -- it's not an easy problem to solve, but that is not stopping us from trying to we are continuing to aggressively go after this AS FOR THE TEMPORARY FIX ON THOSE CRACKS -- DRIVERS WILL KNOW SOON IF THAT IS WORKING. TK KA7N. IF THE NEW ROAD DESIGN WORKS -- THE CITY WILL CREATE DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION REQUIRMENTS FOR THE

West Side roads need improving

Albuquerque’s west side has a growing and expensive problem on its streets.